Assoc. Prof. Dr. Daniela Tarantino | Law and Religion | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at University of Genoa, Department of Political and International Studies, Italy

Daniela Tarantino is an Associate Professor of Comparative Religious Law at the University of Genoa, where she also directs the Observatory on Religious and Migration Phenomena. With a strong academic foundation in Canon Law and Ecclesiastical Law, her work focuses on the dynamic interplay between religion, law, and migration within multicultural societies. Through research, teaching, and academic leadership, she has made significant contributions to understanding the legal implications of religious practice in modern society. Her scholarship is distinguished by a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates legal, anthropological, and sociological perspectives.

Profile

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Education

Tarantino began her academic journey with a Law degree in 2000 and furthered her specialization with a PhD in Canon Law from the University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro. She completed her doctorate in 2007 at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. Her robust education in both secular and ecclesiastical legal systems laid the groundwork for her subsequent career in academia and research. This diverse legal training has enabled her to critically examine legal pluralism and the influence of religion in legislative frameworks, especially in Europe.

Experience

Tarantino’s professional career spans extensive teaching, research leadership, and editorial roles. Since becoming an Associate Professor at the University of Genoa, she has taken on responsibilities such as coordinating the Citizenship Training seminar series and managing EU-funded research units. She has served as the scientific director of multiple research projects including PRIN 2022 and ProCEDI, addressing issues such as religious freedom during states of emergency and cultural diversity in education. Her affiliations extend to numerous international academic bodies, where she contributes as a member of scientific committees and editorial boards, including Ephemerides Iuris Canonici and Vergentis.

Research Interest

Her primary research interests center on Canon Law, comparative religious law, and the evolving legal treatment of religion in multicultural societies. She pays particular attention to the intersection of religious rights and migration, exploring how legal systems accommodate or resist cultural diversity. Additionally, she investigates the regulatory transformation of religious expression and the implications of digitalization in legal and pastoral contexts. Her work consistently integrates interdisciplinary analyses, covering legal anthropology, history, and sociological insights into religious coexistence.

Award

In April 2025, Tarantino received the prestigious International Research Excellence Award – Book of Award – Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award, in recognition of her academic contributions to the fields of religion and law. Furthermore, she earned the National Scientific Qualification in May 2023 to hold the position of Full Professor in Ecclesiastical and Canon Law (12/C2). These accolades reflect her standing in the academic community and her sustained impact on contemporary legal and religious scholarship.

Publication

Daniela Tarantino’s research output reflects her interdisciplinary focus and international engagement. Notable recent publications include:

1. Tarantino, D. (2025). The Challenges of Canon Law in the Church of the Third Millennium: Reflections on His “Sociality” from the Italian Doctrine. Religions, 16, 510, pp. 1–14. ISSN: 2077-1444.

2. Tarantino, D. (2025). La Iglesia «al lado de las heridas». La función del abogado en el acompañamiento procesal de las partes en la era digital entre pastoral y derecho. Ius Canonicum (Early Access). pp. 1–21. DOI: 10.15581/016.129.003

3. Tarantino, D. (2024). Via Pulchritudinis. La tutela dell’arte sacra nella storia della Chiesa come cammino di evangelizzazione delle culture. Ephemerides Iuris Canonici, 64(2), pp. 435–448. ISSN: 0013-9491.

4. Tarantino, D. (2024). “Migrating or Staying”. The Church’s Magisterium on the Migration Phenomenon in the Post-Covid Era for an “Inclusive” Citizenship. In: Smuniewski, C., Zanini, A., Kozera, C. A., & Bado, B. (Eds.), Unwanted People and Desired Citizens: Contemporary Attitudes, Challenges and Perceptions, Dom Wydawniczy ELIPSA, pp. 187–206. ISBN: 978-83-8017-565-5.

5. Tarantino, D. (2024). The Dicastery for Communication in the Synodal Path of the “Outgoing Church”. NomoK@non, 18/09/2024, pp. 1–6. ISSN: 2749-2826.

6. Tarantino, D. (2023). Comunicare la testimonianza. Il Dicastero per la Comunicazione nella riforma curiale. Series: Diritti, Religioni, Società e Migrazioni (DiRSoM), PM Edizioni di Marco Petrini, Varazze (SV), pp. 1–343. ISBN: 979-12-5534-018-8.

7. Spotorno, M. & Tarantino, D. (2023). “Aqua fons vitae”. The Church’s Contribution to the Narration of Water as a Symbol and Resource Between Pastoral Care and Law. In: Water Resource and Environmental Sustainability, PM Edizioni, Varazze (SV), pp. 9–19. ISBN: 979-12-5534-032-4.

Each of these works is cited in current academic discussions on Canon Law, religious identity, and cultural integration, particularly in light of the challenges posed by globalization and digital transformation.

Conclusion

Daniela Tarantino’s scholarly profile exemplifies a rare synthesis of traditional legal scholarship and progressive, interdisciplinary inquiry. Her contributions illuminate the evolving role of religious institutions within pluralist legal systems and underscore the relevance of Canon Law in addressing modern societal challenges such as migration, digitalization, and intercultural dialogue. Her role as educator, researcher, and thought leader continues to shape contemporary debates at the intersection of law, religion, and society.